Sectional burial-vault.



C. H. HARNELL.

SECTIONAL BURIAL VA ULT.

APPLECAHON FILED AUG. I8. I9I6.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- WI T/i/ESSES: h I IV !/E Al TOR:

ATTOB/LIEK C. H. HARNELL.

SECTIONAL BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1B I916.

1,953,1T/4h Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2- 70 Qfi ATTORNEY.

CHARLES H. HARNELL, 0F UNION TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA.

SECTIONAL BURIAL-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. a, 11913.

' Application filed August 18, 1916. Serial No. 115,655.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. HARNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Union township, in the county of Montgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Sectional Burial-Vault, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the type of burial vault that is designed to be shipped in knock-clown condition and to be set up at the place where it is to be used, the invention having reference more particularly to a burial vault structure that may suitably be composed of concrete or various plastic compositions.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved sectional burial vault of such construction as to be composed of the minimum number of simple patterns adapted to be interchangeably connected together. Another object is to provide an improved sectional burial vault that shall be so constructed as to be adapted for use not only in dry ground but in Wet earth and without causing troublesome preparation which in many cases is necessary in order to prevent entrance of water into the vault while being erected. A further object is to provide improved burial vault sections of such construction that they may be handled without liability to fatal injury to the joint portions thereof. A still further object is to provide improved burial vaultv sections and improved means for' securing the sections together, an aim being to provide an inex-' pensive, durableand economical burial vault.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a sectional burial vault having certain novel features of construction; the invention consisting further in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claim.

Referring to the drawings, -Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial vault constructed substantially in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse central sectional view of the improved vault. Fig. 2

is a top plan of the bottom and the side Wall of the vault set up but not cemented to- .gether.. Fig. i is a perspective viewof one of the cover sections of the vault inverted.

5 is a perspective view of the improved joint-locking means. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate cover sec-,

tions inverted. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal centralsection of the improved vault. Fig. 8 1s a top plan of the bottom of the vault. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section of the vault on the line IX-IX of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on the line X-X of Fig; 3. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the end sections of the wall of the vault, and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective vieW of one of the side sections of the wall of the vault.

Similar reference characters on the different figures of the drawings indicate like parts or features of construction herein referred to.

In'practically carrying out the objects of the invention a suitable number of bot tom sections of slab shape are provided, there being preferably two end sections 1 and 2 and a middle section 3. The end sections are alike in form so that one mold is sufiicient for making both sections. The top of one section has an end groove l and side grooves 5 and 6 therein that extend continuously adjacent to the edges of the sections, the companion end section having similar grooves 4, 5, 6. The middle section has grooves 7 and 8 in its top that are spaced apart equal to the distance between the grooves 5 and 6 so as to form continuations thereof. The middle section may be made in diflerent lengths so as to provide a vault of the length that may be required for graves of adults; and also when considerable variation in length is necessary the end sections may be made in various lengths. The bottom sections have plain joint edges and the tops of the end sections adjacent to the joint edge have recesses 9, 9, the middle section having similar recesses 10, 10, adjacent to its joint edges to receive plaster or. cement. One end section has sockets 11 and 12 that extend from the bottom of the grooves 5 and 6 respectively in proximity to the joint edge of the section, the middle section 3 having similar sockets 13 and 14 that extend from the bottom of the grooves 7 and 8 adjacent to one joint edge of the section. The other end section has sockets 11. and 12 adjacent to its joint edge, the middle section having sockets l3 and 14: adjacent to its opposite joint edge. A suitable number of joint locks are provided llllli which arein the :t'orm ot' staples, two staples 15 and 15 being placed so as to lockthe section 1,to the-section 3, the legs of the staples being inserted in the sockets of the respective sections; and similarstaples 1.6 and 16 are placed so as to secure the section 2 to the section .3, the legs of the-staples being inserted in the sockets ofthe respec.

tive sections. The recesses?) and '10 are filled .wlth plaster orcementlT, the recesses 9jand 10 being filled with similar. substance 18 in order to closeand seal the adjacent joints.

.In order to accurately:placethe wall sections of the vault on the vaultfbottom and securely retain them in position the groove 4 has sockets 19, the groovesh and6 having sockets 20 and21, the groove 4. having sockets l9, thegroovesband 6 having sockets 20 and 21 respectively; and the grooves 7 and. 8 have sockets .22. and 23 therein. respectively. Some of .the sockets havemetallic dowel-pins 24, 24 therein, others having order upon the bottom ofthe vault.

si1nilar,pins.25,25 therein. The dowel-pins are securely embedded and secured in the.

sockets by meansoi' plaster or cement 26, 2 6

placed'in the groove 4 and 4 respectively.

The dowel-,pins forthe side sections of .the wall 'are secured inplace byinieans o'fplaster or cement 27 and 28 placedinthe grooves that extend alongthe side edges of the sections.

The Wall of the vault comprises tWo side sections 29 and'30 of suitable llength, .one

section preferably being longer than the tionsof the side walls are not on oneand the same plane. The bottoms of-the .wall sections are flat and are placed .upon the mortar or cement which is placed an the grooves .thatare formed in the top of .the

bottom .sections. The bottoms of the end sections 33 and 34have sockets 35 and 35 therein Tespectivelythat receive the dowelpins "25 and.25 respectively. 'Theibottoms of theside wallisections have .sockets. 36,

36 that receive the dowel-pins 24, 245211 ranged forthe purpose of securing .theside wall sections. The vertical ends o'f-the wall section 29' have'vertical grooves 37 and 38 therein respectively, the end of the section 30that abuts the section 29 having. a vertical groove 39 therein, the opposite end of the.

section 30 having a similar groove .40 therein. The, end of the secti0n31 that] abuts the end section 3311215 a vertical;groove-40' therein, the opposite end ,ofthe section havinga similargroove 39' therein. The end opposite end having :a similar :;gro.ove..38

therein. The inner side of the end section 33 has vertical grooves 41 and 42 therein that are in register With the grooves 37 and40" respectively. The inner side .o'f1tlie end section 34has vertical grooves 41' and 42 that register with the grooves 37 and 40 respectively. The grooves 'Lill'lCl 39 being 11'15Ieg1Sl38f.f013I11 an QPGIllIlglLhtbEX- tends .from the top of :the side wall .tolthe.

bottom thereof, and Ya rod .43 is placed in the opening in vertical arrangement. A similar l'I'OCl 44 .is placed in the opening formeddiy the (grooves 37 and .41, a similar rod 44ibeing placediin the opening formed by the grooves .40 and .42. A rod' 43 "is placed in the opening formed by the grooves 38v and39. ,a similarlrod 45 isplaced inthe openingformed-bythegrooves 37 and 41, a

similar :rod .45 being placed in the opening formed by the grooves. 40 .and 42. The rods preferably are each provided :with an anchoringltoot 346 on its '.lower end. A suitable fnumbe rofkey blocks .47, .47 are placed on each rod in spaced apart or.der, eachf key block having .a central .aperture ,48 therein to receive the .rod. 'Plaster or cement '49, 549 is placed in theopenings be tween the key blocks and when hardened forms a .water .tightjointbetween each two adjacent sections while .the key blocks constitute .very, strongjoint locks.

In order .to insure tight sealing of the coveron the wallbfthe .vaultwithout the use of delicate portions that might be broken off ainhandling the .sections, the top of the .end section :33 has a longitudinal groove .50 therein that intersects the vertical grooves 41 and .42, the.end sectio11.34 ofthe wall having a similar .groove 50 in its top. 'Thesection '29 .flikewise .has' a longitudinal groove :51, the like section 32 having agroove .51 therein. YTlie section 31 has a ,groove '52 'in its top, the like section 30'having a similar ;.g'ro. ove52" in its top- The groove. in theitop 61; eachsection of the side walls extends jl'froin the verticalz grooves in .the endsof thesectionQ The section 33 has sockets 53 therein that-extend from the bottom of .the groovei 50, .thesection 3.4 hav ingsockets. 5.3 thatlextendfrom the bottom of :the groove .50. The section .29 has sockets 54 .that extend .fromtheibottom of the groove 51, thecsection{32lhaving similar sockets 54. "The *section'3l :likewise .has

sockets '55, ;the section "30 having similar sockets (55G -Dowehpins 5.6 and .56 arein: serted inithe socketsf53andf53' respectively, similardowelqiiinslST. and 57 being. inserted in the sockets that are provided in the sec-f tionsof thes'ide walls. 'Theigrooves50 and 50 areffi-lled witliplaster .or cement 58.and

58 respectively, the ggroovesin the .top of.

the sections of the side walls being filled with plaster or cement 59 and 60 respectively.

A suitable number of arched cover sections are provided, there being two similar end sections, one comprising two sloping portions 61 and 62 the other comprising similar sloping portions 61 and 62, the end sections having wall portions 63 and 63 respectively. Intermediatesections 6i, 6% 64 are provided that correspond with the sloping portions of the end sections. The wall portions of the end sections have sockets 65 and 65 to receive the dowels 56 and 56 respectively, the lower ends of the sloping portions having similar sockets 66 and 66 to receive the dowels 57, 57. The top of each end section has a recess 67 adjacent to the joint edge thereof, the top of the intermediate section having each a recess 68 adjacent to one joint edge and a similar recess 68 adjacent to the opposite joint edge thereof, and when the cover sections are placed together upon the side wall the recesses are filled with plaster or cement 69 to close and seal the joints between the sections of the cover. Each cover section is provided on its top with an eye 70 for lowering the section into place.

In order that the vault may be erected in wet ground the middle one of the floor sections has a well-opening or man-hole 71 which is larger in diameter in its upper portion than in its lower portion so that a ledge 72 is formed which supports a door 7 having a ring 74 on its top for handling it, the door being sufficiently thin so as to leave space above it in which cement 75 is placed to seal the well-openin lVhen there is considerable water in the ground 76 where the vault is to be placed a well or catchbasin 77 is dug so as to be below the middle of the bottom of the vault and accessible through the well-opening.

It should be understood that the various sections are made in a variety of sizes and so as to be interchangeably used with other sections for different sizes of vaults, so that when a vault of a particular size is required it is only necessary to select the proper sections to obtain the required vault dimensions.

In practical use the several sections are readily placed in position without requiring extraordinary means for handling them. In case the water in the ground is suiiicient to interfere with the sealing of the joints the well or catch-basin is dug to receive the water which is bailed out through the wellopening 71, the latter being subsequently closed and sealed. In some cases when the grave is dug in dry ground the well-opening may be left unclosed for drainage purposes. It will be understood that after the cover is placed and sealed upon the wall of the vault to inclose the casket as designed the devices 70 may be removed from the cover before filling in the earth over the vault.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A burial vault comprising a bottom, a plurality of wall sections continuously ar ranged upon the bottom, each section having joint portions in contact with like portions of adjacent sections, each joint portion having a vertical groove therein, the grooves of each two adjacent portions forming an opening extending down from the top of the wall, rods vertically arranged in the openings respectively and having each a plurality of key blocks thereon that extend into the vertical grooves of the adjacent joint portions, plastic material in said openings enveloping said blocks and rods, and acover for the wall sections.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. HARNELL.

Witnesses BYRON R. RUssELL, G. S. MCCLUER,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. C. 

